Halifax Clarity credit card vs Nationwide Select credit card

techno79

I've had the Halifax Clarity credit card for a while and use it for my holidays abroad because I can pay for items and take out cash at ATM without getting charged commission. There's a very small amount of daily interest that gets added, but I usually pay of my credit card as soon as I get back (i.e. before my bill) and thus this usually amounts to a few pence worth of interest.

However, I've recently gotten the Nationwide Select credit card for use within the UK as I get 0.5% cashback on all purchases. However, I notice that there's no commission fee for purchasing on the card when abroad either.

Therefore, I'm now thinking I should take both cards when going abroad. Use the Nationwide card for purchases abroad and the Halifax card for cash withdrawals at ATM.

Even before getting the Nationwide card, I'd always favour putting things on my card rather than use cash. But now with the Nationwide card, I'd be getting cash back on these purchases too.

Am I missing something or is this the best way to spend between the two accounts?

PeacefulWaters

I'd certainly take both cards. A backup card is essential in my view. In fact I take my "cards from hell" with me too.

Once you take into account Visa offering an inferior exchange rate to MasterCard the 0.5% cashback is probably negated.

So much of a muchness for purchases. Clarity for cash.

techno79

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

Visa offering an inferior exchange rate to MasterCard.

I didn't realise this, is this fairly well known about?

techno79

I just found this: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/cards/2015/05/mastercard-vs-visa-for-using-abroad-which-wins

the post says Mastercard is about on average 0.6% higher than Visa but it is variable. Does seem like the interest charged with the Clarity and the cashback gained from Nationwide probably evens things out. Will probably stick to the Nationwide card as I prefer that one but yes, good to have a backup card too.

etienneg

Certainly take both cards as a backup is always good to have in case anything goes wrong. NW Select is good for purchases abroad (but not cash withdrawals) as there's no foreign currency exchange fee. However, the 0.5% cashback is only paid on purchases paid in pounds sterling.

techno79

etienneg wrote: »

However, the 0.5% cashback is only paid on purchases paid in pounds sterling.

I did not know that, thanks for the heads up.

etienneg

It's not a secret! Go to nationwide.co.uk and click on the Credit cards button. The Select card is in the left column and the fifth "bullet point" CASH BACK says this explicitly.